RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Acute uterine inversion is a rare, but serious, obstetric complication in the third stage of labour, commonly resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. A total or partial invagination of the uterine fundus occurs, followed by profuse bleeding and circulatory instability. The case presented here illustrates a typical clinical course of the condition. CASE PRESENTATION: After giving birth to a large, healthy boy, a woman developed acute uterine inversion. The uterus was successfully repositioned using Johnson's manoeuvre under general anaesthesia, and significant transfusion was needed to combat the resulting haemorrhage. INTERPRETATION: Acute inversion of the uterus should be suspected based on purely clinical signs. Treatment should commence without delay by a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, anaesthesiologists and surgeons.
